Wayside indicator for railway motor cars



3 Sheets-Sheefc 1 A. W. FISHER ET AL WAYSIDE INDICATOR FOR RAILWAY MOTOR CARS Filed March 27, 1948 March 14, i950 H HDIIIIII THEIR 14m/2W f m BY n@ March l 1950 A. w. FnsHER ET AL WAYSIDE INDICATOR FOR RAILWAY MOTOR CARS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1948 hsulablz.

THEIR March 14, 1950 A. w. FISHER ET AL 2,509,608

WAYSIDEINDICATOR FOR RAILWAY MOTOR CARS Filed March 27, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS l APal W Fslizep am Ry 4. By new@ Hmz Arran/5y Patented Mar. 14, 1950 WAYSIDE INDICATOR FOR RAILWAY MOTOR oARs Arthur W, Fisher, Forest Hills, and Wesley B. Wells, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignors to The Union Switch and Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 27, 1948, Serial No. 17,436

12 Claims. l

This invention relates to a signal for producing two contrasting indications of lthe color position type, and especially to signals of the type described for use on railways;

Railroads commonly use small light-weight motor cars for carrying maintenance men and others. These cars are operated independently` of the regular railway signal systems, in order that they may not delay the passage of trains. The men on the cars are therefore required to watch out for approaching trains and remove the car from the rails in time to avoid collisions. Under certain conditions, itis very dicult for the motor car riders to be sure that no train is within a dangerously close distance of them. For example, where trains are operated atfvery-high speeds, they may approach the motor car so rapidly that it is difficult to remove the 'car yfrom the track between the time the train is rst sighted and the time it reaches the car. A hazardv also exists at blind curves and 4similar locations even where low speed trains are operated. In other cases, there may be long stretches of track such as trestles or bridges where there is not sufiicient room at the wayside to permit removal of the motor car from the track. In such a location, the motor car must have time to reach the end of the stretch before it can possibly `be removed.

Because of these hazards, it is very desirable to provide indicators for informing the occupants of a motor car that a train is approaching and that they should therefore remove the car from the rails as quickly as possible. may be spaced at intervals along the wayside, particularly at dangerous points. These indicators are not required to be as large or elaborate as the regular wayside signals, b-ut on the other hand are required to be small and inexpensive because of the relatively greater number of signals required. The indicators must, however, be very reliable and must give a positive, unmistakable indication.

It is therefore an object of our invention to provide a small, inexpensive indicator for use on railways to indicate to motor car operators that a train is approaching.

Another object of our invention is to provide an improved device for giving twoseparate and distinct signal indications.

Since such indicators are necessary at loca# tions remote from any power supply, another ob-l ject is to provide an improved indicator which does not require ar source of illumination within itself. Aiurther object is to provide an indicator Such indicators having reflecting indicia which make the indicator readily visible at night to persons riding on a vehicle equipped with a light.

It is a further object of our invention toy provide an improved device for giving two separatesignal indications which are distinctive both as to color and as to position.

Another object is to provide an improved supe.v porting and operating structure for a rotatable; signal member. A further object is to provide such a structure which is improved from-the standpoint of accessibility for inspection and repa1r.

VWe. accomplish the foregoing objects of our invention by providing a combined relay andindicator unit including a relay ofY conventional form controlled vby vsuitable*.circuits so as tgogbe.. responsive to the presence of a train withinthe desired control limits. The armature of this relay:- is connected to a novel and distinctive indicator.

The indicator comprises a white screen vhaving a central black spot, and four apertures of substantially the same area as the spot located at equal distances to the left, right, above and below the spot. Behind the screen is mounted a white disc rotatable about an axis passing through the.I center of the black spot on the screen. This disc' carries two diametrically opposite pairs of spots'. One pair of spots is red. The other is colored green and is located on a diameter spaced by an angle of 45 degrees from the diameter on which;

the red spots lie. The disc is-carried by a shaft:

connected to the relay armature. When the relayv winding is deenergized, indicating that a train is approaching, 'the armature rotates the shaft and thereby the disc to a position in which thel two red spots on the disc are visible through the'- apertures in the screen located on the left and right-hand sides of the black central spot. The aspect of the signal to an observer is therefore a horizontal line of three spots, the end spots being red and the center one black. When no train is approaching, the relay is energized andattracts its armature', thereby rotating the disc to move the red spots behind the screen and to bring the green spots into alignment with the two apertures above and below the central blackspot. The aspect of the signal is then a vertical row of three spots, the top and bottom spots being green, and the `center one black. We prefer to cover the colored spots on the disc with reect ing material, so as to increase the visibility of the indicator at night.

Other objects'and characteristic features ofour 3 invention will become apparentv as the description proceeds.

We shall describe one form of indicator embodying our invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevational view of an indicator casing in which is mounted an indicator embodying our invention. indicator of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an lelevational view of the indicator unit of Fig. 1, removed from the casing, and with certain parts broken away to permit a better view of the interior mechanism. Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the indicator unit of Fig. 3, with certain parts broken away.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a housing I having a socket 2 for mounting on a conventional supporting post 3. The housing has a hinged back cover 4 for access to the interior. Inside the housing is a mounting plate 5 which supports by means of spring supports 6 a relay housing generally indicated at 1 and including a base 8, a transparent casing 9, and an insulating top plate ID.

Mounted on the upper surface of the top plate I is a pair of relay coils II having core structures I2 (see Fig. 3) which extend downwardly within the casing 9 and cooperate with an armature I3. The armature I3 carries an insulating bracket I4 which supports a number of electrical contacts I5. The contacts I5 are connected electrically to terminal posts I6 of conventional form, carried on the top plate I0.

The armature I3 also carries' an L-shaped arm I1 which extends upwardly through an aperture Illa in the top plate I0. Mounted on the top plate I0 so as to cover the aperture Ia through which the arm II passes is a casingl I8. The casing I8 is screwed and sealed to the'top plate I0.

A bracket I9 is attached to one side of the interior of casing I8, and has a pair of spaced lugs I9a supporting trunnions |917 on which is rotatably mounted a shaft 2D. The shaft 20 carries an arm 2I connected by a link 22 to the upper end of arm II. A yoke 23 has its bight fixed on the shaft and its arms extending forwardly of the casing I 8, spanning the front lug I9a and the front trunnion I 9b. At its forward end, the yoke 23 carries a disc 24. front side of disc 24 is white or light colored and has two diametrically opposite red spots 24a and two diametrically opposite green spots 2422. It should be noted thatthe green spots 24h are located on a. diameter of the disc 24 which is spaced by an angle of 45 degrees from the diameter on which the red spots 24a are located.

The disc 24 is apertured at 24e to permit access to front trunnion I9b for inspection, adjustment and repair. The casing I8 has an aperture I8a aligned with the rear trunnion I9b and covered by a removable glass window ISb, so that the rear trunnion is similarly accessible for inspection, adjustment and repair.

A screen 25 is fastened at its edges to the I casing I8 so as to overlie the rotatable disc 24.

Thescreen 25 is provided with a central black spot 25a, which contrasts witha background having the same color as disc 24. The screen 25 is also provided with four apertures 2512, which are of substantially the same area as the black spot 25a, and are spaced at equal distances to the left, right, above and below the spot 25a.

The screen 25 and disc 24 are enclosed by a glass roundel of conventional form, indicated at The Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the 26, which is attached at its edges to the housing I8 by means of aframe 21.

The relay windings II are intended to be deenergized or energized according as a train is or is not approaching the signal within control limits which are determined by the conditions at the signal location. As long as the windings II are energized, the armature I3 is held in the attracted position shown in Fig. 3. The armature I3 acts through arm I7, link 22 and crank arm 2| to hold the disc 24 in the position shown in Fig. 3 wherein the green spots 24h are visible through the apertures 25b above and below the central black spot 25a. The signal aspect then presented to an observer is a vertical line of three spots, the upper and lower spots being green and the central one black.

When a train enters the control limits of the signal, the windings of relay II are deenergized, so that it drops its armature I3. The dropping of armature I3 acts through arm I 1, link 22 and crank arm 2I to rotate the shaft 28 and the disc 24 through an angle of 45 degrees. This moves the green spots 24h out of sight behind the screen 25, and moves the red spots 24a into alignment withthe apertures 25D located respectively at the left and right of the black spot 25a. The signal aspect then presented to an observer is a horizontal line of three spots, the end spots being red and the middle spot black, as shown in Fig. 1.

It may therefore be seen that the two signal aspects presented by our improved signal are distinctive both as to color and as to position.

We :prefer to provide the green and red spots with reecting surfaces so that they may be more readily visible at night. This is especially ad- Vantageousjwith a signal such as this, which has no source of illumination of its own, and depends for night-time observation upon light directed at it from an external source, such as a light carried on a motor car.

Although we have herein shown and described only one form of signal embodying our invention, it is understood that various changes and modications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention.

Having thus described out invention, what we claim is:

1. An indicator including a screen having a central colored spot and four apertures having areas substantially equal to that of the spot and spaced equal distances from the spot respectively to the left, right, and above and below the spot, a rotatable shaft behind the screen and aligned with the spot, a disc on the shaft having a background substantially the same color as the screen and fixed on the shaft for rotation therewith, said disc having two pairs of diametrically opposite spots colored to contrast with the background 1ocated on diameters separated by an angle of degrees and at radial distances from the shaft equal to the distance between the spot on the screen and the apertures therein, each of said vpairs of spots being of a different color than the other pair, and means for rotating said disc between a first position wherein one pair of spots on the disc is visible through the apertures at the left and right of the screen spot so that a horizontal row of three spots is visible to an observer, and a second position spaced 45 degrees from the first position wherein the other pair of spots on the disc is visible through the apertures accesos 5, aboveandbelow thezsereen spot 'so that a'verticaiL row of three .spots'is visibIe to an observer.

.2. An indicator'including alight-colored screen having a central black spot and four apertures having areas substantiallyy equal to that o'f the spot'and spaced equal' distances from thel spotprespectively to the left, right, and above and below the spot, a rotatable shaft behind the screen and aligned with theVv spot, a disc on the shaft having' a background substantially the same color as the screen and xed on the shaft for rotation there with, saidY discv having two pairs of diametrically opposite spots colored `to contrast with thebackground located on diameters separated by an angle of 45 degrees and at radial distances from the shaft equal to the distance between the spot on the screen and the apertures therein, one o'i said pairs of spots being red and the otherbeing4 the disc is visible through the apertures at the left and right of the screen spot so that' a horizonal row of three spots is visible to an observer, and a second position spaced 45 ydegrees from the 'rs'tposition wherein the pair of green spots on the disc is visible through the aperturesabove and below the screen spot s'o that a' vertical row .of three spots is visible to an observer.

3. An .indicator including a screen having a central colored spot and four apertures having areas substantially equal to that of the Spot and spaced equal distances lfrom the spot respectively to the left, right, and above Iand below the' spot, a lrotatable shaft vbehind the screen and aligned with. the spot, a disc on .the shaft having a background 'substantially the' same color as the screen and` fixed on the shaft for rotation 'therethree spots is visible to anvobserver, and a second position spaced Ll5 degrees from the iirst position wherein the other rpair of spots on the disc is visible through the apertures above and below the screenl spotv so that a vertical row of three spots is visible to an observer.

.4. An indicator including a screen having a central colored spot and four apertures having areas substantiallyequal to that of the spot and spaced equal distances from the spot respectively to the left, right, and above and below the spot, a rotatable shaft behind the screen and aligned with the spot, a disc on the shaft having a background substanti'ally the same color as the screen and xed on the shaft for rotation therewith, said disc having two pairs of diametrically opposite spots colored to contrast with the background located on diameters separated by an angle of degrees and at radialdistances from the shaft equal to the' distance'between the .spot on the screen and the apertures therein, reilecting material covering each of the spots on the disc, and means for rotating said disc between a irst position wherein one pair of spots on the disc is visible through the apertures at the left and right of the screen spot so that a horizontal row of three spots is visible to an observer, and a second position spaced 45 degrees from the i'lrst position 6 whereintheotner pairof'spots on tnefdiscis visible through thel apertures above andb'elow the screen spot so that a vertical' rowv of three spots isl visible'r to an observer;

5`. An indicator'includingy a screen having four apertures havingsubstantally equal areas and' spaced equal distances respectively to the left, right, and;aboveand'belov'v'A apoint on the screen, a discY behind the screen and rotatable about anv axis passing through said point, said disc having azback'ground'substantially the same color 'asthe spots' colored to contrast with the background,`

said spotsbeingflocated on diameters separated by anv angle of 45 degrees and at radial distances from the axis equal tothe distance between the vpoint on the screen and said aperturestherein, each of said pairs of spots being of a different color than the other pair, and means iorrotating said disc betweenv a iirst positionk wherein one pairA of spots on thev discis visiblethrough ther apertures at the left and right of'said pointon the screen, anda second position spaced 45 degrees from the first position wherein the other pair of spots on the disc is visibl'eth'rough the apertures above and below the point on said screen.

'6. An indicator including a screen having vtwo apertures with substantially equal areas and spaced lequal' distances along horizontal and vertical lines respectively from a point on the screen, a discv behind the screen and rotatable about an axis vpassing through said point, saidA disc having a background substantially the same color as the screen and having two spots ycolored to contrast withthebackground located .on radial lines separated' by' an angie ofi415' degrees'and at radial distances from the axisequaixto the distance between saidpoi'nt ,on the yscreen and the apertures therein, each of said spotsbeingy of a different color than the other, and means for rotating saidv disc between a iirst` position. wherein one spot on the disc is visible through the aperture horizontally spaced from said point on the screen, and a second position spaced 45 degrees from the rst' position wherein the other spot on the disc is visible through the other aperture.

'7; An indicator including a screen having a central colored spot and two apertures rhaving' areas substantially' equal .to that of the spot and spaced equal distances lalong horizontal and vertical lines respectively from the spo'tfa disc ybehind the screen and rotatable about an axis passing through the spot, said disc having a back ground substantiallythe' same color as the screen and two spots coloredv to contrast with the background locatedl on radial lines separated by an angle `oi 45 degrees and at radial distances from the shaft equal to the distance between the spot on' the screen and the apertures therein, each of said spots |being of a different color than the other, and rneans or rotating said disc between a iirst position wherein one spot on the disc is visible through the aperture horizontally spaced from 'the screen spot so that a horizontal row of two spots is visible to an observer, ,and a second -position spaced '45 degrees from the first position wherein the other spot on the disc is visible through the aperture vvertif'zally spaced from the screen spot so that a vertical row of two spots is visible to an observer.

8. An indicator comprising a relay having a winding and an armature operated thereby, a housing enclosing said armature, a top plate for said housing, said top plate having an aperture therein, la casing mounted on the upper surface annoso?,

of said top plate so as to cover said aperture, a transparent panel rin one side of said casing, 'a screen having two apertures therein behind said panel, an indicator member behind the screen of substantially the same color :as the screen and having two spots thereon of different colors which contrast with the screen color, means movably supporting the indicator member, and a mechanical connection between the relay armature and the indicator member so that the signal member is in a iirst position wherein one spot is visible through one aperture when the relay winding is deenergized and is moved to a second position wherein the otherspot is visible through the other aperture when the relay windingV isenergized, thereby providing separate indications of the different conditions .of energization of the windingiwhich indications are distinctive both as to color and position. y

9. An indicator comprising a casing, a transn parent removable panel in one side of the casing, a screen fbehind said panel having Va plurality of spaced apertures therein, said screen being removable `when the panel is removed, an indicator disc rotatable behind said screen and having' on its surface indicia which are visible through dilierent ones of said apertures in diiferent positions of the disc, a shaft in said casing aligned with the axis of the disc, a pair of spaced trunnions mounted in the casing and sup-v f,

porting the ends of the shaft, a yoke having its bight attached to the shaft between the trunnions and its arms spanning one trunnion and attached to the disc so that the disc is rotatably supported ture therein to permit access to said one trunnion, said disc aperture being normally covered by said screen, said casing having an aperture therein aligned with the other trunnion, and a removable window, for said last-mentioned aperture to permit access to the other trunnion.

10. An indicator comprising a relay having a winding and an armature operated thereby, a housing enclosing said armature, a top plate for said housing, said top plate having an aperture therein, a casing mounted on the A upper surface of said top plate so as to cover said aperture, a transparent removable panel in onev side of the casing, a screen (behind the panel having a white background, a 'central black spot, and four apertures whose areas are substantially equal to that of the spot and spaced equal distancesfrom the spot respectively to the left, right and above and below the spot, a rotatable shaft in the casing and alignedwith the spot, a pair of spaced trunnions mounted in the casing and supporting the ends of the shaft, a yoke having its bight attached to the shaft between the trunnions and its arms spanning the trunnion nearest the screen, an indicator disc mounted on the ends of the arms for rotation with the shaft andyoke, said disc having an aperture therein aligned with said one trunnion and said black spot on the screen, said screen being removable when the panel is removed to permit access to said one trunnion through said aperture, said casing having an aperture therein aligned with the other trunnion, a removable window for said last-mentioned aperture to permit access to the other trunnion, said disc having a pair of diametrically opposite red spots and a pair of diametrically opposite green spots located on diameters separated by an angle of 45 degrees and at radial distancesfrom the shaft equal to the distance between the black spot on the screen and the apertures therein, and a mechanical connection between the relay armature and the indicator disc so that when the relay winding is deenergized the red spots are aligned with the apertures at the left and right of the black spot and the indicator presents to an observer an aspect consisting of a horizontal row of three spots, the end spots being red and the center spot black, and when the relay winding is energized the armature rotates the indicator disc to move the red spots behind the screen and align the green spots with the apertures above and below the black spot, so that the indi- ;cator presents to an observer an aspect consisting of a vertical row of three spots, the top and bottom spots being green and the center spot black.

11. An indicator comprising a disc rotatable vabout an axis between two positions and pro vided rwith two pairs of spots located at equal distances from said axis on diameters separated by an angle, the spots of the one pair having a color which is diierent from the spots of the other pair, said disc having a background color Iwhi'ch contrasts with the colors of both pairs of spots, means for rotating said disc between its two positions, and a screen disposed in front oi said disc and provided with two apertures through Iwhich the spots of said one pair are visible when and only when said disc is rotated by the shaft and yoke, said disc having an aperug to one position and with two other apertures through which the spots of said other pair are visible when and only when said disc is rotated to its other position, said screen having the same color as the background color of said disc.

12. An indicator :comprising a disc rotatable about an axis between two positions and provided with first and second spots located at equal' distances from the axis on radial lines separated by an angle of 45, the two spots having diiTerent colors and the remainder of the screen having a background color which contrasts with the colors oi' said spots, means for rotating said disc between its two positions, and a screen disposed in front of said disc and provided with a, first aperture through which the first spot is visible when and only when said disc is rotated to one position and with a second aperture through which the other spot is visible when and only when said disc is rotated to its other position, said screen having the same color as the background color of said disc.

ARTHUR W` FISHER.

WESLEY B. WELLS.

REFERENCES CITED rihe following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 959,193 Auth May 24, 1910 1,913,937 Loeier June 13, 1933 2,245,493 Nothe June l0, 1941 2,367,299 McLaren et al Jan. 15, 1945 

